On game day in Brazil, the country stops, but not so much. To serve the millions of fans who decide to watch games on the street, bars and shopping centers remain open. Surrounded by televisions and shouting, sales do not stop. With the ball rolling in the background, beers, snacks and dishes leave the counters at all times for the customers’ hands.
A small gastronomic and cultural center in Asa Sul, in Brasília, brought together hundreds of people to watch the Brazilian team against Switzerland, in the second round of the group stage of the Qatar Cup. Among the fans, the obvious. Lots of partying, excitement, anticipation and even an improvised samba with a tambourine and an atabaque. Behind the counters, there were also fans, but divided with work.
During the match, Wesley Dieno served several customers at the counter of a restaurant, serving meals, drinks and barbecue, on a day with much more sales than usual for a Monday. Amidst the shouting of the crowd in front of him, his passivity stood out. In a moment of danger, when Richarlison entered the right edge of the opponent’s area, he didn’t even get upset. He continued with his head down, swiping a customer’s card through the machine as the crowd roared.
Wesley Dieno, works during the Brazil x Switzerland game – Fabio Rodrigues-Pozzebom/ Agência Brasil
Minutes later, when Lucas Paquetá crossed low in the area and the number 9 almost didn’t score in the small area, Wesley delivered an executive plate of thigh and drumstick, unshakable to the frisson around. Similarly, Tamara Marques, a saleswoman at a clothing and jewelry store, did not seem very concerned about the importance of a victory and, with it, an early qualification for the round of 16.
“I’m watching the game too, cheering along with them. But I’m calmly cheering”, assured Tamara, from inside the store. For her, who said she loves football, there is no problem working during matches, as there are televisions nearby.
Tamara Marques, works during the Brazil x Switzerland game – Fabio Rodrigues-Pozzebom/ Agência Brasil
Already in the second half, when the clientele gave a truce, Wesley could calmly look at the screen at the moment when Richarlison almost opened the scoring after a cross by Vinícius Júnior. Richarlison is even Wesley’s favorite player, who wore a national team shirt under his leather apron. On the back, Neymar’s number 10, but the name was not the Paris Saint-Germain striker. Written in pen on the fabric, the name of the striker who scored Brazil’s goals in the first match.
“My father-in-law gave me the shirt and it was Neymar’s number 10, but I didn’t want Neymar’s shirt, so I wrote Richarlison”. According to him, the preference was also for political reasons. Richarlison is an athlete attentive to social issues in Brazil and, during the pandemic, he became famous for supporting campaigns in favor of the vaccine against covid-19.
Casimiro’s great goal, however, deconstructed the attendant’s exempt image. He vibrated like any fan who squeezed himself in front of the local screens. He smiled and cheered along with friends standing outside the counter. Tamara confirmed the first impressions. When the ball finally beat Switzerland goalkeeper Sommer, she was on her cell phone and unmoved by the outburst of joy about ten feet from her shop. She looked straight ahead, flashed a blasé smile of satisfaction, and returned to her online conversations.
Fans watch the match Brazil vs Switzerland – Fabio Rodrigues-Pozzebom/ Agência Brasil
But the really important thing is that Casimiro’s goal guaranteed, in addition to the classification, one more game to warm up trade and the cash registers of stores, bars and restaurants. Brazil wins, everyone wins.
